How to get a BOQ quote from an electrical and plumbing material supplier (and compare it properly)

What to send a material dealer so the quote comes back fast and accurate, how to read a brand-wise quote, the hidden differences between two quotes that look the same, and the questions to ask before you confirm an order for a flat or a site in Gurgaon or NCR.

By JP Pro Supply · Published 2026-10-19 · 5 min read · Gurgaon & NCR

A BOQ (bill of quantities) is just a list of what you need with quantities. Contractors have one from the consultant; flat owners usually have a slip from the electrician and plumber. Either way, the speed and accuracy of the quote you get back depends almost entirely on what you send. Here is how to send it, how to read what comes back, and how to compare two quotes that are not really the same.

What to send

For each line: item, brand (or "any approved"), size or rating, series or finish where relevant, and quantity with unit. Three examples:

• FR house wire, Polycab, 2.5 sq mm, red, 6 coils (90 m each)
• Modular switch 6A one-way, Legrand Myrius, white, 48 nos
• CPVC pipe, Astral, 25 mm SDR 11, 30 lengths (3 m each)

Format. Excel is best because the dealer can quote in the same sheet. PDF and a clear photo of a handwritten list are fine. A WhatsApp message typed line by line works for small lists.

Context. Site location (which sector or society), whether it is a flat, a builder floor or a tower, the stage you are at, and when you need the first delivery. Dealers plan dispatch around this.

What slows a quote down. "Wire, 20 coils" with no size. "Switches, full flat" with no count or series. Mixed units (metres on one line, coils on another). A brand named that is not available in that size. Each of these means a call back and a day lost.

What a good quote looks like

A brand-wise quote lists every line with the brand actually offered, the unit rate, the quantity, the line total, GST shown separately, and a validity period. It should:

• Match your list line by line, with any substitution clearly marked ("specified Astral 25 mm SDR 11, offered Ashirvad 25 mm SDR 11, Astral short this week") rather than silently swapped.
• State the grade, FR or FRLS, SDR 11 or 13.5, B or C curve. Two quotes with the same brand and a different grade are not the same price.
• Show validity. Wire and cable follow copper and are often valid for 7 days; switchgear, fittings and sanitaryware hold longer.
• State delivery terms: included or extra, single or staged dispatch, and lead time per lot.
• Carry a GST number on the quote itself, so you know the invoice will too.

Why two quotes that look the same are not

1. Grade. FR versus FRLS wire, SDR 13.5 versus SDR 11 CPVC, type AC versus type A RCCB. Cheaper quote, lower grade.
2. Series. "Legrand switches" could be Myrius, Mylinc or Britzy at very different price points. Check the series is the one you specified.
3. Coil and length units. A quote per coil beats a quote per metre only if both are 90 m coils. Some brands sell 180 m coils; some quotes are per 100 m.
4. Taxes. One quote inclusive, one exclusive. Compare the grand total.
5. Delivery. One quote includes site delivery in Gurgaon; the other is ex-shop and you arrange a tempo.
6. Authorised sourcing. The genuinely cheaper quote on Polycab or Havells is sometimes cheaper because it is not Polycab or Havells. Ask where the material is sourced and whether the brand will be named on the GST invoice.
7. Validity and rate holding. A quote that is valid for 3 days and re-priced on confirmation is not the same as one that holds the rate for the order.

Trade rate versus retail

Retail counters price per item with a margin on each. A dealer quoting a complete list prices the list, so the total is usually lower even if one or two individual items match the counter. This is why sending the full list rather than shopping line by line almost always wins, and why a dealer will ask for the whole BOQ before quoting the wire alone.

Questions to ask before confirming

• Is every line the brand and grade I specified, and where not, is the alternative marked?
• How long are the rates held once I confirm?
• Can the order be dispatched in stages, and what is the lead time per stage?
• Is delivery to my site included?
• Will the GST invoice name the brands?
• How are shortages and top-ups handled mid-project, and at what rate?
• What happens if an item arrives damaged or wrong?

For contractors and builders

Everything above, plus: ask about a running account across phases, consolidated billing, equivalent-brand options on long-lead items, and a single contact for the site. Our project supply page describes how we run these, and the builder's guide to choosing a supplier goes deeper.

Sending us a BOQ

WhatsApp the list to +91 93107 65871, email it to contact@jpprosupply.com, or use the quote form on jpprosupply.com. A brand-wise quote for a flat or site anywhere in Gurgaon and NCR usually comes back within one working day.

Frequently asked questions

What is a BOQ in construction?

A bill of quantities: an itemised list of the materials (and often the work) a project needs, with quantities and units. For electrical and plumbing it lists every wire size, switch, MCB, pipe, fitting and fixture with counts, and suppliers quote against it line by line.

How long should a material quote take?

For a clear list with brands and quantities, one working day is reasonable for a flat and two to three days for a multi-tower BOQ with several hundred lines. Longer usually means the list needed clarification.

Should I buy electrical and plumbing material from one supplier?

If the supplier covers both properly, yes. One account, one delivery schedule, one invoice and one person to call. The risk is a supplier who is strong in one category and resells the other at a markup; ask which brands they stock directly in each.

Can I negotiate a material quote?

Within limits. Dealers work on thin margins on branded wire and switchgear, so large discounts usually mean grade or sourcing changes. Better levers are consolidating the full list, agreeing staged payment, and committing the whole project rather than the first phase.